Slider for slide fastener



Jan. 24, 1956 c. J. FAULKNER SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENER Filed March 51, 1953 INVENTOR CLAYTON J'. FAULKNER ATTORNEY United States Patent O SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENER Clayton J. Faulkner, Washington, D. C. Application March 31, 1953, Serial No. 345,976

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-20515) This invention relates in general to slide fasteners and more particularly to the slider elements constituting the opening and closing member of such fasteners.

The conventional slider of a slide fastener or zipper cannot be removed from its tapes or stringers intermedia e the ends thereof unless the upper and lower guide plates are physically pried apart which often renders the assembly unfit for further use. The. necessity for removing a slider intermediate the ends of the stringers are frequent and may be caused by a portion of the garment to which the fastener is secured or another garment becoming caught between the guide members of the slider and the stringers, or other foreign matter often becomes lodged in the slider member and prevents further operation thereof. It is known that the aforementioned annoying circumstances can be substantially overcome by providing a slider wherein the upper and lower guide members are pivotally fastened together whereby the slider can be opened, for removal and replacement on the stringer members. However, it has been found that such devices have not proven entirely satisfactory as there is a tendency for the slider member to become accidentally disengaged from the stringer members and become lost. It has also been found that the necessity for completely removing the slider from the stringer members is generally not required. This is so because seldom do both side flanges of the slider become engaged with foreign material at the same time, nor is it generally necessary to disengage both of the slider side flanges in cases where both sides are caught It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a slider which can be separated from the stringer member on one side only, or both sides alternately and independently.

A further object is to provide such a slider that is easy to remove when the occasion arises but which normall will remain positively in engagement with the stringer members.

Another object is to provide such a device that is simple as to its parts, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and convenient and easy to operate.

These and other objects and advantages are provided by the improved slider for slide fasteners of the invention which generally comprises complementary spaced upper and lower guide plates, means at one end of the guide plates connecting said guide plates together in spaced relationship, said guide plates having flange members along the side edges thereof projecting toward the opposed guide plates and providing with the guide plates a channel for guiding interlocking stringer members into interlocked position, at least one of the side flanges of one of said guide plates being pivotally mounted on its corresponding guide plate, and a pull tab pivotally secured to the upper face of the upper guide plate.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the illustrative embodiments thereof in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a slide fastener unit embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2'is a side elevation of the slider shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 3 with the slider shown in position for removal or insertion to the stringer members ofthe fastener;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional end view of a modified form of the slider of the invention.

With reference to the drawings and in particular to Figs. 1 through 5, the slide fastener generally includes a pair of stringers 10 of flexible material, such as textile web, having a plurality of fastener elements 12 secured along their opposed edges. The fastener elements 12 are of the conventional type and include complementary projections and depressions in each of the elements. In the preferred form of construction the uppermost fastener elements 12"have extended outwardly projecting jaw members 14, the purpose of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The fastener elements 12 and 12 are brought into interlocking engagement and disengagement by means of the novel slider member generally designated 16.

The slider member 16 generally comprises spaced upper and lower guide plates 18 and 20, respectively, which are secured in the parallel spaced relationship by means of a post 22 at the leading end of the guide plates. 'It is evident that other means securing the complementary guide plates together may be employed as is well known in the art. For example, the plates 18 and 20 and their interconnecting member may be stamped from a sheet of metal or cast as an integral element from metal or a suitable plastic material.

in the form of construction shown the upper end of the post 22 projects through upper guide plate 13 and is provided with an aperture 24 therein. A pull tab 26 is pivotally mounted in the aperture.

The lower guide plate 2011215 flange members 28 its longitudinal side edges. the upper plate 18.

A complementary flange 30 is provided along one of the longitudinal side edges of the pper plate 18, the flange 3t) projecting toward the lower plate 20.

Along the other longitudinal edges of the upper plate 18 and corresponding to the relative position of side flange 30 is a recessed portion adapted to receive a flange 32 which is substantially L-shaped. The L-shaped member or flange 32 is mounted to the tab portions 34 by means of pivot pins 36 as is more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings.

As is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings the longitudinal edge of the upper plate having the recess is provided with a longitudinal boss or rib 38, the outer edge of the boss being constructed so that it is substantially perpendicular to the lower face of the plate. The upper edge of the L-shaped member 32 is smoothly rounded as at 42.

The spacing between the recess in the upper plate and the L-shaped member 32, the height of the rib 38, and the radius of curvature of the smoothly rounded edge 42 are so selected that when the L-shaped member 32 is in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 the L-shaped member is prevented from freely pivoting relative to the upper plate. However, by merely applying a prying force with a blade, coin or the like between the opposed faces of the L-shaped member and the flange 28, the L-shaped member 32 is pivoted upwardly as shown in Fig. 4. With the L-shaped member 32 in this position any mate in the drawings,

along The flanges project toward rial caught therein may be removed or the stringer member on that side may be removed and replaced.

It will be seen with the L-shaped member 32 in the opened position the slider is still securely attached. to the other stringer member, so that it cannot be misplaced or accidently lost. However, the additional freedom of movement provided in the slider 16 after one of the parallel stringer members has been removed will permit the removal of substantially any material caught in the side of the slider which remains attached to its stringer member.

in order to prevent the slider member 16 from being removed from the open end of the stringer members either when both stringer members are positioned within the depending flanges of the guide plates or with one removed, the uppermost locking elements 12 have extended jaw members 14 which limit the upward movement of the slider member.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 5 of the drawings the flangc member which is pivotally connected to the slider is provided on the upper guide plate and only on one side thereof. It is evident however that the pivotal flange may be positioned on the lower guide member or that both side flanges of one of the guide plates may have pivotal flanges. form of construction is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings wherein the only change from the form of the slider of Figs. 1 through 5 is the provision of two pivotal side flanges.

With reference to Fig. 6, 20 is the lower guide plate which is provided with flange members 28 along its longitudinal side edges. The flanges project toward the upper plate 18.

The upper plate has complementary flanges 32' along the longitudinal side edges thereof, which flanges are substantially L-shaped and are mounted for pivotal movement by pins 36, only the pins at one end being shown in Fig. 6.

The flanges 32 are prevented from free pivotal movement by the longitudinal bosses or ribs 33. The outer edges of the ribs being constructed so that it is sub stantiaily perpendicular to the lower face of the plate 13', and the upper edge of the flanges 32' are smoothly rounded as at 42 as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 through 5.

The operation of this form of the invention is the same as that where only one of the parallel stringer members can be removed from the slider.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the novel slider for slide fasteners fully accomplishes the aims, objects and advantages of the invention.

This latter 0 lclaim: U, U I 1. A slider for slide fasteners comprising complemen tary spaced upper and lower guide plates, means at one end of said guide plates connecting said guide plates together in spaced relationship, one of said guide plates having a recessed slot provided in one of its side edges;

flange members along the otherof said side edges of the guide plates projecting toward the opposed guide plates, at substantially L-shaped member mounted for pivotal movement in the recess in said one of said guide plates, an upstanding rib member on said one of said guide plates adjacent'the pivotally mounted L-shaped member and coextensive therewith normally maintaining one of the legs of the L-shaped member in a position of projection toward the complementary guide plate, and a pull tab pivotally secured to the upper face of the upper guide plate.

2. A slider for slide fasteners comprising complementary spaced upper and lower guide plates, means at one end of said guide plates connecting said guide plates together in spaced relationship, the upper of said guide plates having a recessed portion extending a substantial distance along one of its side edges, flange members along the other of said side edges of both of the guide plates projecting toward the opposed guide plates, a substantially L-shaped member, pivot pins mountingsaid L-shaped member in the recess in the upper guide plate from one of its legs whereby the other of the legs is positioned to pivot toward and away from the opposed flange member on the lower guide plate,- an upstanding rib on the upper guide plate adjacent the pivotally mounted L-shaped member and substantially coextensive therewith, said rib adapted to engage the said one leg of the L-shaped-member and normally maintain the other leg thereof in a position of projection toward the complementary guide plate, and a pull tab pivotally secured to the upper face of the upper guide plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 507,871 Adams q Oct. 31, 1893 900,963 Smith Oct. 13, 1908 1,609,486 Marinsky Dec. 7, 1926 1,893,036 Prentice Jan. 3, 1933 2,596,861 Meech May 13, 1952 2,626,440 Carlile Jan. 27, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 176,908 Switzerland May 15, 1935 506,119 Great Britain May 23, 1939 

